Referee's report by George Howard Darwin, on a paper 'Mathematical contributions to the theory of evolution VIII. On the correlation of characters not quantitatively measurable' by Karl Pearson

Description

Sectional committee: Mathematics

Recommended for publication in Philosophical Transactions with the modifications in Pearson's accompanying memoranda in which he explains where further explanation by the author is required. Provides references to pages of the original manuscript and indicates sections he does not fully understand. The whole investigation is curious and interesting from a mathematical point of view, and the work is ably carried out, but having expressed his inability to understand some important passages, his opinion may perhaps be discounted.
Explains his 'uneasy feeling' as to the correctness of numerical results derived from statistics as to qualities which are not susceptible to numerical estimate, where the method of treatment is by judgement to greater or less than a certain standard. Provides an example of this with 'tea-tasters'. If Pearson has considered this kind of criticism he might with advantage address himself to it and so remove such doubts.

[Published in Philosophical Transactions A, 1900].

Endorsed on verso as received 19 February 1900.

Reference number

RR/15/94

Earliest possible date

18 February 1900

Physical description

Standardised form (type A) and note on paper

Page extent

5 pages

Format

Manuscript